Mlt. SUMMERS IN PRISON. 



09 



After tliis unexpected termiiiatbii to Dur inter vie we 

 retired to tlie residence of my friend Mr. Patrick Stewart, 

 situated within a few doors of the Government Homo, to 

 consider with Captain Troubridge wliat steps should next 

 be taken* 



Here was a British subject^ whoso arrest had been in 

 the first instance illegal still unjustifiably detained after 

 a respectful remonstrance on my part, — I being, in the 

 absence of any British Consul or other civil authority, the 

 proper representative of the Briti'sh GoveriiiTient. I felt 

 it my duty to demand in writing the iiriTncfliate release of 

 Mr. Summers : considering, Yiowevcr, tlic warm tempera- 

 ment of Senor do Amaral, and the bearmg towsuxls me 

 which he had already assumed, I couki scarcely augur for 

 the more formal appiicalion that success which had been 

 denied to my friendly intercession. I thought it advisable, 

 therefore, to make the necessary arrangements in anticipa- 

 tion of denial. Owing to the shoalness of the water, no 

 ship of any size could anchor within three miles of the 

 landing-place. The boats of the squadron were preparing to 

 pull at the regatta. I sent a gig off to the First Lieutenant 

 of the M&^mder, with an oi-der to him to make the signal, 

 "Prepare to land boats for service." Captain Staveley 

 in the meantime undertook to make himself acquainted, 

 witliout exciting suspicion, with the position and state of 

 the prison, the route to itj and how it was guarded, &c. 

 To effect tliis he assumed a white jacket, the usual 

 costume of the mercantile gentlemen ; and^ taking with 



